American Orthoptic Journal Guidelines for Contributors

American Orthoptic Journal publishes articles dealing with all aspects of ocular motility and visual physiology which are of a clinical nature. Acceptance of a manuscript submitted to the Journal depends on favorable review by at least two members of the Editorial Board.

Each issue will contain those papers presented at the joint symposium of the American Orthoptic Council and the American Association of Certified Orthoptists during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The Richard G. Scobee Memorial lecture will also be published annually. An abstracts section will include selections from the current literature. The remainder of the Journal will consist of papers which are selected from those submitted for review.

Original scientific work, brief case reports, descriptions of new instruments and procedures, and timely reviews of pertinent topics are considered appropriate for the Journal, and will be judged on their merit. All essayists at the regional and national orthoptic meetings are urged to consider American Orthoptic Journal for publication. Each manuscript must conform with the editorial policy of the Journal regarding spelling, punctuation, and typographic construction. As a guide, we suggest The Stylebook and Editorial Manual , prepared by the Scientific Publication Division of the American Medical Association. One original and two copies of the complete manuscript should be submitted. Each manuscript should contain a title page which includes the author(s)' address and the institution where the principal work was carried out. An address where reprints can be requested should also be included. Each page of the manuscript should contain, in the upper right hand corner, the first author's last name, an abbreviated running title, and a page number. The paper should include a 200-word abstract which will precede the paper in its published form. Margins should be 1½ inches on all sides and double spacing should be used throughout. A list of key words and three or four multiple choice questions (with answers keyed) should accompany the manuscript.

Suitable scientific papers will be published at no cost to authors. This will include reproducing illustrations, charts, tables, and diagrams as approved by the Editorial Board. The Board, however, reserves the right to limit the number and type of illustrations. All illustrations should be prepared in a form so they can be reproduced without additional work or alteration. The editors will be responsible for cropping when appropriate. Figures should be numbered and their identifying number placed in the text for approximate position. Information consisting of: (1) figure number; (2) title of manuscript; (3) name of senior author; and (4) arrow indicating the top of the illustration, should be placed on a gummed label or an adhesive strip and affixed to the back of each illustration, diagram, or photograph. All illustrations should be placed in an envelope marked with the senior author's name and title of the paper. No paper clips of any kind should be used on illustrations. Concise legends typed on an accompanying separate sheet must explain fully the important points of the illustrations. Illustrations that have been published elsewhere cannot be used in the American Orthoptic Journal without the written permission of the author and publisher. Proper credit is to be given to the source of any republished material. References are to be placed on a separate sheet and numbered in the order in which they are cited in the text. The appropriate number should appear in the text following the reference. For detailed artwork formatting requirements, please read our Artwork Preparation Guidelines.

References must not be listed which do not appear in the text. The following forms are to be used:
For articles:
    Stegall FW: Orthoptic aspects of nystagmus. Am Orthop J 1973; 23:30-42.
For books:
    von Noorden GK. Burian and von Noorden's Binocular Vision and Ocular Motility. St. Louis, CV Mosby Co. 1980, pp. 88-91.

The author should retain a copy of the manuscript and of all illustrations. All manuscripts become the property of the American Orthoptic Journal when they are submitted. A copyright transfer will be sent to the senior author of all accepted papers. These must be signed and returned to the editors. Send all correspondence to the editorial office (address above at right).